Apparatus for assembling the elements of liquid-dispensing containers



7 l M t w w a W 2 W h s 4 S T mm Em m mmw mmm um 5mm c m .R D 5mm Q SIwt W w April 2%, 1955 Filed Aug 18 1949 .2720? I LJnn 92 3 YUWW Z H or yApril 26, 1955 Filed Aug. 18, 1949 F. C. JENNINGS APPARATUS FORASSEMBLING THE ELEMENTS OF LIQUID-DISPENSING CONTAINERS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2jfz'wrqfor frzn/r CUFF]?! s April 26, 1955 F. c. JENNINGS APPARATUS FORASSEMBLING THE ELEMENTS 0F LIQUID-DISPENSING CONTAINERS 4 Sheets-Sheet 3Filed Aug. 18 1949 /50 fi mvzy m A new Apnl 26, 1955 JENNINGS 2,706,847

APPARATUS FOR ASSEMBLING THE ELEMENTS OF LIQUID-DISPENSING CONTAINERSFiled Aug. 18, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 lkerzrzln s 425%) @m I w r w/4M .Il

United States Patent APPARATUS FOR ASSEMBLIN G THE ELEMENTS OFLIQUID-DISPENSING CONTAINERS Frank C. Jennings, Westboro, Mass.,assignor to Emhart Manufacturing Company, a corporation of DelawareApplication August 18, 1949, Serial No. 110,926

7 Claims. (Cl. 29-3s The present invention relates generally to improvedapparatus for assembling the elements entering into containers such asare widely used for the dispensing of liquids of various kinds, in theform of a jet or spray. The invention relates particularly to containersof the type commonly known as squeezable bottles, by reason of the factthat the containers are composed of flexible plastic material thatpossesses sufiicient inherent rigidity to stand upright as a bottle,while at the same time being readily compressible by squeezing in thehand, thereby to expel the liquid contents of the container through adischarge opening provided in the container closure, which is in theform of a plug or cap fitting the container mouth.

In the handling and marketing of any liquid confined within a dispensingcontainer, it is of the utmost importance that the closure cap make aliquid-tight seal with the container opening, and that the tube whichextends downwardly into the liquid for delivering such liquid to thecap, be firmly attached to the cap in proper position with respect tothe discharge opening, as Well as with respect to the bottom of thecontainer. Generally speaking, the assembly of the various elementsentering into the filled and sealed liquid-dispensing containers, suchas squeezable bottles, involves the performance of a number of separateoperations, such as the attachment of the tubes to the closure caps, andthe placing of the cap and tube units in the bottle necks, with suchoperations being customarily performed by hand.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide an improvedapparatus for assembling closure caps and tubes for use in dispensingcontainers of the above-described type, with such apparatus beingcharacterized by its speed and uniformity of operation and accuracy ofassembly.

A further object of the present invention is to provide such apparatuswith means to accurately control the lengths of the individual tubesthat are severed from a supply of tubing and to properly position eachtube for assembling in a closure cap while supported against lengthwisefiexure, with the assurance that each tube will be securely held inplace in correct relation to the discharge opening of the associatedcap.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide apparatusfor assembling all of the essential elements entering into dispensingcontainers of the abovedescribed type, with such apparatus beingcharacterized by its ability to rapidly produce filled, sealedcontainers by a series of readily performed operations, starting with asupply of containers, closure caps and tubing and finishing with filledand sealed containers ready for dispensing a liquid.

Unless otherwise indicated in the present specification and claims, theterm cap will be employed to include closure members and plugs, such asmight be used for sealing dispensing containers of the type describedherein, and is not limited to closure members which extend over or coverthe upper rim of the container openings.

The above and other advantageous features of the invention willhereinafter more fully appear from the following description whenconsidered in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which- Fig.l is a view in side elevation of apparatus embodying the presentinvention, with the parts occupying a position in readiness forreceiving a cap preparatory to inserting a tube therein.

Fig. 2 is a view in end elevation of the apparatus shown in Fig. l, asviewed from the right, with the parts occupying a position wherein atube is about to be inserted in a cap, and with the positioning of anassembled cap and tube unit being shown in dotted lines for presentationto a filled container.

Fig. 3 shows the apparatus of Fig. 1, as viewed from theopposite side,and with the parts occupying different positlons.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view along the line 44 of Fig. 1,looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figs. 5 and 6 are fragmentary sectional views, on an enlarged scale,showing the functioning of the tube cutting and positioning mechanism.

Fig. 7 is a wiring diagram showing the electrical circuits forcontrolling the operation of the tube feeding devices forming part ofthe apparatus shown in Fig. 1.

Figs. 8, 9, 10 and 11 are schematic showings of the various operationsperformed by the apparatus with relation to a cap and tube and theelectrical circuit shown in Fig. 7.

As best shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the apparatus of the presentinvention comprises a base 1 on which is mounted an upwardly extendingpost 2 for pivotally supporting a laterally extending frame 3. The frame3 can be swung about the vertical axis of the post 2, as illustrated inthe full line and dotted line positions of Fig. 2, for the purpose ofbringing a work-carrying plunger 4 in vertical alignment with either acap and tube assembling station A or a container-sealing station B,511i1 as will be apparent from a consideration of Figs. 2 an The plunger4 is vertically movable in a sleeve 5 provided by the frame 3, and thelower end of the plunger 4 terminates in a cap-receiving head 6. Forpurposes of illustration, the plunger 4 is shown as being movable up anddown with respect to the frame sleeve 5 by means of a handle 7 connectedto a rod 8 suitably connected to the ends of the plunger 4, with the rodbeing movable in a guide 9 carried by the sleeve 5. Thus, the plunger 4can be readily moved up and down by means of the handle 7 to bring thehead 6 into position for cooperation with instrumentalities located ateither station A or B, with the handle 7-also serving as a means forreadily swinging the frame 3 about the post 2 to move the plunger 4 andits head 6 from one station to another.

The head 6 on the plunger 4 provides a pair of clamps 10, in the form ofresilient fingers, that are adapted to receive and hold between them theupper portion of a cap C, shown in Fig. 6 as being of a type that iscus-l tomarily employed as a closure for containers, such as squeezablebottles, with the cap C providing a central opening 11 for the purposeof receiving a tube T prior to the insertion of the assembled cap C andtube T in the container. As previously pointed out, the apparatus of thepresent invention provides separate stations A and B for performing theseparate operations generally indicated in Fig. 2, and there will nextbe described in detail, the particular mechanism for assembling a cap Cand tube T on the plunger head 4.

At the same time, there will also be described the associated mechanismfor feeding and cutting a tube T of predetermined length following theassembly of each cap and tube unit, so that a tube will be in readinessfor the next cap and tube assembly operation upon the return of the head6 to the station A, following the performance of a container-sealingoperation at station B.

As best shown in Fig. 3, individual tubes T are adapted to be deliveredto the cap and tube assembly station A from acontinuous supply of tubingT1 wound on a suitable spool 12 that is turnable freely on a spindle 13supported by a bracket 14 extending upwardly from the base 1. A guide 15extending from the bracket 14, below the spool 12, is adapted to conductthe tube T-1 into a conduit 16 that extends downwardly beneath the baseand then curves upwardly so as to direct the tubing T-l into a tubepositioning and cutting block 17 which is located at station A. Thisblock 17 extends upwardly from the base 1, with a central opening 18therein having its axis in exact alignment with the center of the head 6when the plunger 4 is swung into the full line position of Fig. 2, withthe axes of the block opening 18 and plunger 4 in vertical alignment.

The tubing T-l from the spool 12 is adapted to be fed into the opening18 in block 17 by means of an autocatically controlled feed mechanismwhich, as best shown in Figs. 2 and 3, consists of a roll 19 mounted ona shaft 20 that is adapted to be rotatably driven by an electric motor21 mounted on the base 1. A suitable speed-reducing unit 22 isinterposed between the roll shaft 20 and the shaft 21a of the electricmotor 21, so that the roll shaft 20 is adapted to be rotatably driven ata relatively slow speed, in the neighborhood of 40 R. P. M., with thislow rate of speed of the shaft 20 being determined by the desired linealspeed at which it is desired to feed tubing T-1 into the tube block 17.

As best shown in Fig. 2, the feed roll 19 provides a V-groove 23 intowhich the tubing T4 is adapted to fit tightly so that rotation of theroll 19 by the motor 21 will cause the tubing to be positively fed intothe conduit 16 and from thence upwardly into the delivery open ing 18 ofthe block 17. In order to eliminate slippage between the tubing T-l andthe sides of the feed roll groove 23, and thereby insure accuratefeeding of the tubing during each operatin cycle of the apparatus, apressure roll 24 cooperates with the positively driven feed roll 19,with the roll 24 being mounted on an arm 25 turnable about a pivot 26.The pressure roll 24 is in the form of a narrow grooved disk that isadapted to fit on the tubing T-1 and press the latter firmly into thebottom of the groove 23, as will be apparent from a consideration ofFig. 3.

In order to make certain that the roll 24 will press on the tubing T1with sufficient pressure to cause positive feeding of the tubing T1 bythe roll 19, the roll arm 25 is adapted to be turned about its pivot 26through the pull developed by an electromagnet 27. The armature 28 ofthe electromagnet 27 is connected to the free end of the arm 25 by aspring 29 which normally serves to maintain the roll 24- in engagementwith the tubing at the bottom of the roll groove 23, and energization ofthe electromagnet 27 serves to increase the pull of the spring 29 as thearmature 28 moves downwardly. As will be hereinafter described, theelectromagnet 27 is adapted to be energized from a suitable source ofelectrical energy, whenever the motor 21 is caused to operate throughits connection to the same source, with such energization of theelectromagnet 27 and motor 21 being automatically controlled so as tocause the positive feeding of a predetermined length of tubing T1 intothe block 17 during each complete operating cycle of the cap and tubeassembling mechanism.

Referring now to Figs. 5 and 6, there is shown, on an enlarged scale,the particular construction of the block 17 and associated mechanism,whereby a length of tubina T- l, as previously fed into the opening 18by the roll 15, will be severed to provide a separate tube T ofpredetermined length which is firmly held in position against lengthwiseflexure, while a cap C is carried downwardly by the head 6 to causeinsertion of the upper projecting end of the tube T into the cap opening11.

For the purpose of severing the tube into predetermined lengths, a knifeblade 30 is movable through a slot 31 extending through the block 17 atright angles to the opening 18 through which the tubing T1 is fed. Thisknife blade 30 is adapted to be actuated by a pin 3% attached to thelower end of a lever 32 which is turn-ab e on a pivot 33 supported by alug 34 projecting from the block 17, see Fig. 5. A spring 35 isconnected at its ends to the knife-carrying portion of the lever 32,below the pivot 33. and a fixed pin 36, so that the knife blade 30 isnormally maintained in a retracted position by the pull of the spring35, whenever the head 6 on the plunger 4 occupies the raised position ofFig. 1 preparatory to the reception of a cap C between the spring clamps10. When the lever 32 occupies this position, a cam proiection 37 at theupper end of the le er bears on a roll 38 mounted at the end of a stud39 carried by the head 6, so that the pull of the spring 35 is adaptedto yieldingly maintain the lever 32 in readiness for the cutting of alength of tube T, as soon as the head 6 starts its downward movementwith a cap C, as later described.

As previously pointed out. the conduit 16 is adapted to deliver tubingT-l, as fed by the rolls l9 and 24. to the opening 18 in the tubecontrol block 17, and there will next be described the particularmechanism for controlling the feeding and cutting of individual tubes T,in timed relation with movements of the head 6 which performs the capand tube assembly operation. This tube controlling mechanism is bestshown in Figs. 5 and 6, which are on an enlarged scale, with theautomatic functioning of the mechanism being further illustrated in theschematic diagrams of Figs. 8 to 11, inclusive.

Referring now to Figs. 5 and 6, the opening 18 in the block 17 is shownas being in the form of a continuous passage extending upwardly throughthe block, with the size of the passage being slightly greater than theoutside diameter of the tubing T-1. The opening 18 is in communicationwith a chamber 4-9 formed in the block 17 above the knife slot 31, withthe chamber 40 being adapted to freely receive a support 41, thefunction of which is to yieldingly position a cap C, while a tube T isbeing inserted therein.

The cap support 41 is normally maintained in the position shown in Fig.5 by means of a spring 42 seated at the bottom of the chamber 40 withthe top of the support lying flush with the upper end of the block 17. Astop pin 43 extends transversely through the wall of the chamber 40 soas to engage a shoulder 44 formed on the support 41, and so limit theupward movement of the support under the pressure of the spring 42.Therefore, the cap support 41 normally occupies a position in which itis capable of moving downward within the chamber 40 in response to apressure applied by a cap C, as the latter engages the top of thesupport as a result of downward movement of the head 6 on the plunger 4.

The cap support 41 provides a central opening 45 of such size as tofreely receive the upper end of a tube guiding sleeve 46 which extendsupwardly into the chamber 40 inside the spring 42. The lower end of thesleeve 46 is in communication with the opening 18, and the function ofthe sleeve is to guide and rigidly support the tubing T-1 as the latteris fed upwardly into the cap support 41 by the operation of the rolls 19and 24. The outside diameter of the sleeve 46 is somewhat less than thein side diameter of the opening 45, so that the cap support 41 maytelescope freely upon the upper end of the sleeve 46, as the support ispressed downwardly by a cap C on the head 6 at the start of a cap andtube assembly operation, as will be apparent from a comparison betweenFigs. 5 and 6.

It is to be noted that the upper end of the sleeve 46 is contracted toform a tapered nozzle 46a which is adapted to fit Within an inwardlytapering tube feed orifice 47 formed in the top of the support 41 incommunication with the opening 45 which freely receives the delivery endof the tube guiding sleeve 46. Therefore, when the cap support 41 ismoving downwardly from the position of Fig. 5 to the position of Fig. 6,that portion of the tubing T-1 within the chamber 40 is firmly supportedby the sleeve, and the nozzle 46a on the sleeve 46 will finally closelyengage the upper end of the opening 45 adjacent to the orifice 47, sothat the tubing is effectively prevented from buckling as the upper endthereof is received within the central cap opening 11, as the cap andtube assembly operation is completed.

As previously pointed out, the apparatus of the present inventionprovides means for automatically controlling the feeding and cutting ofindividual tubes T of predetermined length for assembling in the caps C,preparatory to inserting the assembled cap and tube units in containers,such as bottles of predetermined height. For this purpose, the upwardmovement of tubing T1 through the head 17 is utilized to cause automaticinterruption of the tube feed through functioning of an electricalcontrol circuit for the motor 21, which circuit is showndiagrammatically in Fig. 7. This control circuit includes a switch arm49 mounted on a pivot 49 carried by the lever 32, which, as previouslypointed out, carries the knife blade 30 at its lower end, and providesthe cam projection 37 at its upper end. As best shown in Fig. 1, thatportion of the switch arm 48 extending to the right of the pivot 49overhangs the top of the tube feed block 17, so that as the leading endof the tubing T1 emerges from the orifice 47, it will lift the arm 48and turn the latter in a counterclockwise direction about its pivot 49on the lever 32.

That portion of the switch arm 48 extending to the left of the pivot 49,as viewed in Fig. l, carries a contact 50 which is normally held inengagement with a stationary contact 51 mounted on the lever 32 by thepull of a sprmg 52. In the position of parts shown in full lines in Fig.1, it is assumed that previous feeding of a predetermined length oftubing T-l has raised the right-hand end of the switch arm 48 so as toturn the arm on its pivot 49 far enough to cause the contact 50 to beseparated from the stationary contact 51 so that the circuit of the tubefeeding motor 21 is then open. It will be apparent, however, that whenthe lever 32 is turned from the position of Fig. 1 into the position ofFig. 3 by downward movement of the head 6 and its lever operating roll38, the withdrawal of the end of the switch arm 48 from its previousposition over the tube delivery orifice 47, will permit the contacts 50and 51 to be closed by the pull of the spring 52. The closed position ofthe contacts 50 and 51 is indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 7, whichposition is occupied by the contacts when the lever 32 is turned to theposition of Fig. 1 following the removal of an assembled tube T by a capC, with the closed contacts then being in readiness to complete themotor circuit and cause feeding of the next tube through functioning ofthe electrical control circuit next to be described.

Referring now to Fig. 7, the control circuit is shown diagrammatically,from which it will be apparent that the motor 21 and the electromagnet27 are connected in parallel circuit relation between one supply mainM-1 and the stationary contact 51 of the lever switch of which thepivoted arm 48 forms a part. The movable contact 50 is adapted to beconnected to the other supply main M-2 through a starting switch 53,under the manual control of the machine operator, and through a togglesnap switch 54, the position of which is determined by the position ofthe lever 32. The switch 54 provides an actuator 55 which is pivoted soas to hold the switch contacts 56 closed when the lever 32 occupies theposition of Fig. 1. However, when the lever 32 is moved into theposition of Fig. 3, as indicated by the dotted line position of theactuator 55 in Fig. 7, the contacts 56 will be opened to preventcompletion of the circuit for the motor 21 and electromagnet 27 throughclosed contacts 50 and 51 until after the cap and tube assemblyoperation has been completed at station A, and the tube withdrawn fromthe block 17, preparatory to feeding a fresh tube.

The wiring diagram of Fig. 7 is based on the full line showing of Fig.1, wherein it is assumed that a previously fed length of tubing T-1 hasturned the arm 48 about its pivot 49 to separate the contact 50 from thecontact 51. The showing of Fig. 7 also assumes that the starting switch53 has been closed and that the contacts 56 of the snap switch 54 arealso closed, due to the fact that the actuator 55 has been turned intothe full line position by the lever 32. Therefore, the circuit of themotor 21 is in readiness to be completed by closure of the contacts 50and 51, upon withdrawal of the righthand end of the arm 48 from itsnormal position over the projecting end of the tubing T-l, as shown inFig. 3. Obviously, the contacts 50 and 51 will remain closed when thelever returns to the position of Fig. 1 from the position of Fig. 3, inthe absence of a tube T, so that the circuit of the motor 21 and theelectromagnet 27 will be then completed to cause the rolls 19 and 24 tofeed a predetermined length of tubing into the block 17 to take theplace of the previously severed tube T that has been removed as a resultof the cap and tube assembling operation next to be described.

In describing this operation, it will be assumed that the parts occupythe full line position of Fig. 1, wherein the plunger 4 is raised sothat a cap C may be positioned and held on the head 6 by the clamps 10.It will also be assumed that the switch arm 48 then occupies a positionwherein its right-hand end portion is held slightly raised by theprojecting end of a length of tubing T-l, previously fed by the rolls 19and 24, so that the contacts 50 and 51 are then separated, and thecircuit of the motor 21 is open. The above described relation of partsat the start of an operating cycle is shown schematically in Fig. 8,from which it will be also apparent that the knife blade 30 is then heldin a retracted position clear of the tubing T-l by the pull of thespring 35.

The next step resides in moving the plunger 4 downwardly by means of thehandle 7 from the position of Fig. 1 into the position of Fig. 3 whichshows the head 6 at the lower limit of its downward movement, at whichtime the insertion of a tube T in the cap C has been completed. It willbe apparent, however, from a consideration of the relation between theparts of the control mechanism at the start of the operating cycle, asindicated in Fig. 8, that downward movement of the head 6 is alsoaccompanied by a number of operations that are performed in a closelytimed sequence, whereby a length of tubing T-1 is first severed toprovide a tube T of predetermined length, and whereby the motor circuitis held open to positively prevent feeding of the tubing T-1 until afterthe tube T just cut has been assembled in the cap C. Furthermore, thefeeding of additional tubing is prevented until after an assembled tubehas been removed from the block 17, preparatory to carrying anassembllged cap and tube unit to the container closing station Fig. 9shows the above described operations schematically, with the downwardmovement of the head 6 having carried the cap C to a position just abovethe block 17, thereby turning the lever 32 about its pivot 33, in acounterclockwise direction, as a result of pressure exerted by the roll38 on the straight portion of the lever below the cam projection 37. Itwill be apparent from a comparison between Figs. 8 and 9 that suchturning movement of the lever 32 immediately causes the knife blade 30to move to the right, as viewed in Fig. 9, thereby severing thepreviously fed tubing T-l at a predetermined distance below the top ofthe block 7, which distance corresponds substantially to the depth ofthe container into which the cap and tube assembly is to be inserted atstation B. It will also be apparent from Fig. 9 that the same movementof the lever 32 swings that portion of the lever above the pivot 33 tothe left, thereby withdrawing the end of the switch arm 48 fromengagement with the projecting end of the severed tube T, and permittingthe contact 50 to re-engage the contact 51, due to the pull of thespring 52. However, this closure of contacts 50 and 51 does not, at thatmoment, complete the circuit of the motor 21 and electromagnet 27,because the above described movement of the lever 33 to the left, movesthe actuator 55 of the snap switch 54 to the dotted line position ofFig. 7, thereby opening the contacts 56, in advance of closure of thecontacts 50 and 51. Therefore, as the cap C continues its downwardmovement to receive a tube T, the circuit of the motor 21 is temporarilyheld open at the open contacts 56, with contacts 50 and 51 then beingclosed in readiness to energize the motor 21 upon the next operation ofthe snap switch 54 in the reverse direction.

Fig. 10 shows the cap and tube assembly operation as having beencompleted by downward movement of the head to the position of Fig. 3,wherein the roll 38 has reached the downward limit of its travel inengagement with the lever 32, and wherein the flange C-1 of the cap Chas engaged the top of block 17. At this stage of the operating cycle,all parts of the control circuit remain in the same condition, aspreviously described with reference to Fig. 9, i. e., with the feedmotor circuit open. The completion of the cap and tube assembly isindicated in dotted lines in Fig. 10, since such assembly is shown indetail on a larger scale in Fig. 6, it being sutficient to state at thispoint that as the cap support 41 yields in response to downward pressureof the cap C, the projecting end of the previously severed tube T entersthe cap opening 11, with the lower end of the tube being then supportedby the knife blade 30. Furthermore, any downward pressure on the tube T,as the result of the tube inserting operation, does not bend the tubebecause of the fact that the sleeve 46 firmly supports the tube withinthe chamber 40 of the block 17, with the tapered end of the sleeveaccurately guiding the support 41, as the latter telescopes on thesleeve in moving from the position of Fig. 5 into the position of Fig.6. The cap and tube assembly is, therefore, completed without anypossibility of bending or distorting the tube T, and with the frictionalnature of the plastic material composing the cap and tube, serving toinsure retention of the tube T in the cap opening 11, due to the factthat the hollow tube is slightly larger than the opening, and there is aresulting compression of the walls of the tube.

The last step in the operating cycle of the apparatus is illustratedschematically in Fig. 11, wherein the plunger 4 is shown as havingstarted its upward movement, thereby withdrawing the tube T from theblock 17, due to its attachment to the cap C as described above. Thehead 6 is shown as having approached the upper end of its movement withrespect to the lever 32, wherein the pull of the spring 35 serves toturn the lever in a clockwise direction about its pivot 33, as indicatedby the arrow. When this occurs, the knife blade 30 is first withdrawnfrom the block 17, so as to be clear of the tube opening 18, followed byclosure of the circuit of the motor 21, as a result of the movement ofthe snap switch contacts 56 to a closed position when the actuator 55 ismoved to the full line position of Fig. 7. Since, as previouslyindicated, the contacts 50 and 51 are then held closed by the spring 52,the motor 21 will continue to drive the feed rolls 19 and 24 to cause afresh length of tubing T1 to be fed upwardly into the block 17, asindicated by the arrow at the bottom of Fig. ll. The motor 21 continuesto run until the emergence of the leading end of the tubing T1 throughthe orifice 47 lifts the righthand end of the switch arm 48, and therebyseparates the contacts 50 and 51 to open the motor circuit andautomatically interrupt the feed of the tubing T-l, with a predeterminedmeasured length thereof extending within the block 17 between the knifeblade 30 and the top of the block 17. This completes the operatingcycle, with the parts then again occupying the positions indicatedschematically in Fig. 8.

The final step in the production of a completely closed and sealedcontainer resides in swinging the frame 3 from the full line to thedotted line position of Fig. 2, thereby delivering a cap and tubeassembly at station B. A suitable container 57, in the form of acompressible bottle, is shown at station B with the neck 58 of thecontainer being held in position by means of a clamp 59 which embracesthe neck, see Fig. 4. It is to be noted that the clamp 59 serves toaccurately position and support the container 57 with its neck openingin alignment with the vertical axis of the tube T, so that downwardmovement of the plunger 4 by the handle 7 results in the insertion ofthe tube T within the container. Obviously, continued downward movementof the plunger 4 will result in forcing the cap C into the neck 58 ofthe container to close and tightly seal the same, the cap insertingmovement being completed when the flange C1 on the cap C engages theupper end of the container neck 58.

Upward movement of the plunger 4 following the closing and sealing of acontainer 57, results in the clamps 10 releasing the cap C from the head6, whereupon the frame 3 is swung back into the position of Fig. l,preparatory to placing a fresh cap C thereon at the start of anotheroperating cycle such as is shown schematically in Figs. 8 to ll,inclusive. The swinging movement of the frame 3 between the stations Aand B is limited by means of stops 69 attached to the post 2, so thatthe frame 3 will always properly position the plunger 4 and its head 6in alinement with the axis of a tube T at station A, and with the centerof a container 57 at station B.

I claim:

l. Apparatus of the class described comprising in combination, means forsupporting a flexlble tube against fiexure throughout substantially itsentire length, means for holding a container cap, with an openingtherein in alinement with the axis of said tube, means for supporting acompressible container with its open neck spaced from and in parallelrelation to said tube, means for moving said cap with respect to saidtube support to cause the insertion of one end of said tube into saidcap opening, and for thereafter moving said cap and tube, as a unit, towithdraw said tube from its supporting means, for the subsequentinsertion of said cap and tube unit into the open neck of said containerfor closing and sealing said container, with said tube extendingdownwardly therein, said cap moving means including a movably mountedsupporting member for moving said cap holding means, with the cap andinserted tube, from a tube inserting assembly station to a secondassembly station at which the cap and tube are inserted in thecontainer.

2. Apparatus of the class described comprising in combination. means forsupporting a flexible tube against fiexure throughout substantially itsentire length, means for holding a container cap, with an openingtherein in alinement with the axis of said tube, means for supporting acompressible container with its open neck spaced from and in parallelrelation to said tube, means for moving said cap holder with respect tosaid tube support to cause the insertion of one end of said tube intosaid cap opening, and for thereafter moving said cap holder, and cap andtube, as a unit, to withdraw said tube from its supporting means, forthe subsequent insertion of said cap and tube unit by said cap holderinto the open neck of said container for closing and sealing the same,with said tube extending downwardly therein, and means for delivering asecond tube into said supporting means, following withdrawal of thefirst tube therefrom, said cap moving means including a post androtatable frame on which, said cap holding means is mounted and which ismovable to position the cap holding means at an assembly station atwhich the tube is inserted in the cap, and at a second assembly stationat which the cap and tube are inserted in the container.

3. The improvement according to claim 1 including means for feeding asupply of tubing into one end of said tube supporting means, a detentlocated at the other end of said tube supporting means adjacent said capholding means and disposed in the path of the tubing supply, meansresponsive to the striking of said detent by the leading end of saidtubing supply to deenergize said feeding means, a reciprocable knifeblade located near said one end of said tube supporting means, and meansresponsive to the movement of said cap holding means for moving saiddetent towards and away from said other end of said tube supportingmeans and for moving said knife blade across said one end of said tubesupporting means to sever said tubing, said knife blade forming a stopfor the so-severed tube to prevent the latter from moving axially withinsaid tube supporting means while said tube is inserted into said capopening.

4. The improvement according to claim 2 including means for feeding asupply of tubing into one end of said tube supporting means, a detentlocated at the other end of said tube supporting means adjacent said capholding means and disposed in the path of the tubing supply, meansresponsive to the striking of said detent by the leading end of saidtubing supply to deenergize said feeding means, a reciprocable knifeblade located near said one end of said tube supporting means, and meansresponsive to the movement of said cap holding means for moving saiddetent towards and away from said other end of said tube supportingmeans and for moving said knife blade across said one end of said tubesupporting means to sever said tubing, said knife blade forming a stopfor the so-severed tube to prevent the latter from moving axially withinsaid tube supporting means while said tube is inserted into said capopening.

5. Apparatus for interfitting an elongated flexible tube of apredetermined length within an opening of a container cap so as to forma cap and tube assembly, comprising a tube measuring and cut-off devicehaving a cylindrical passageway of substantially said predeterminedlength, said passageway being of substantially the same diameter as theoutside diameter of said tube, whereby said tube is supported againstflexure throughout its predetermined length within said passagewa meansfor feeding a continuous supply of tubing into one end of saidpassageway, a detent located at the other end of said passageway anddisposed in the path of the so-fed tubing, means responsive to thestriking of said detent by the leading end of the so-fed tubing fordeenergizing said feeding means, a reciprocable knife blade located nearsaid one end of said passageway and adapted by its movement across saidone end of said passageway to sever the tubing so-fed, means responsiveto the movement of a cap holder for moving said detent towards and awayfrom said other end of said passageway after said feeding means has beenenergized and deenergized and for moving said knife blade across saidone end of said passageway and for holding said knife blade over saidone end of said passageway while the so-severed tube and said cap arefitted together, whereby said knife blade acts as a stop for said tubeso as to prevent said tube from being pushed out of said passagewayduring the interfitting operation, and a movable cap holder located nearsaid other end of said passageway for holding said cap with its openingin alignment with the axis of said passageway, a slidable block mountedat the outer end of a recess in said tube support at said other end ofsaid passageway, a hole in said block forming said other end of saidpassageway, and a resilient means located in said recess between saidblock and the inner end of said recess for resisting movement of saidblock into said cavity in a direction along said passageway, said capholder being adapted, upon its movement towards said other end of saidpassageway, to urge said block into said recess and to cause said cap tobe fitted over the end of said tube, thus forming an assembly of cap andtube.

6. Apparatus for interfitting an elongated flexible tube of apredetermined length within an opening of a container cap so as to forma cap and tube assembly, comprising a tube support having a cylindricalpassageway of substantially said predetermined length, said passagewaybeing of substantially the same diameter as the outside diameter of saidtube whereby said tube is supported against fiexure throughout itslength within said passageway, a movable cap holder located near one endof said passageway for holding said cap with its opening in alignmentwith the axis of said passageway, means for feeding a supply of tubinginto the other end of said passageway, a tube intercepting means locatedat said one end of said passageway and disposed in the path of thetubing so-fed, means responsive to the striking of said tubeintercepting means by the leading end of the tubing so-fed fordeenergizing said feeding means, a reciprocable knife blade located nearsaid other end of said passageway and adapted by its movement acrosssaid other end of said passageway to sever the tubing sofed, meansresponsive to the movement of said cap holder for moving said tubeintercepting means towards and away from said one end of said passagewayand for moving said knife blade across said other end of said passagewayand for holding said knife blade over said other end of said passagewaywhile said cap and said tube are fitted together, whereby said knifeblade acts as a stop for said tube so as to prevent said tube from beingpushed out of said passageway during the interfitting operation, aslidable block mounted at the outer end of a recess in said tube supportat said one end of said passageway, 21 hole in said block forming saidone end of said passageway, and a resilient means located in said recessbetween said block and the inner end of said recess for resistingmovement of said block into said cavity in a direction along saidpassageway, said cap holder being adapted upon its movement towards saidpassageway to urge said block into said recess and to cause said cap tobe fitted over the end of said tube, thus forming an assembly of cap andtube.

7. Apparatus for producing a succession of tube and cap assemblieswherein each assembly consists of a container cap having its opening ininterfitting relation with a flexible tube of a predetermined length,comprising a tube measuring and cut-off device providing a cylindricalpassageway, said passageway being of substantially the same diameter asthe outside diameter of said tube, means for feeding a continuous supplyof tubing into one end of said passageway, a detent located at the otherend of said passageway and disposed in the path of said tubing supply,means responsive to the striking of said detent by the leading end ofsaid tubing supply for deenergizing said feeding means, a reciprocableknife blade located along said passageway at a distance from said detentequal to said predetermined length, said knife blade being adapted byits movement across said passageway to sever a tube of saidpredetermined length from said tubing supply, a movable cap holderlocated near said other end of said passageway for holding a cap withits opening in alignment with the axis of said passageway, meansresponsive to the movement of said cap holder for moving said detenttowards and away from said other end of said passageway and for movingsaid knife blade across said passageway and for holding said knife bladeacross said passageway while the sosevered tube and said cap are fittedtogether, whereby said knife blade acts as a stop for said tube so as toprevent axial movement thereof in said passageway during theinterfitting operation, a slidable block mounted at the outer end of arecess in said tube support at said other end of said passageway, a holein said block forming said other end of said passageway, and a resilientmeans located in said recess between said block and the inner end ofsaid recess for resisting movement of said block into said cavity in adirection along said passageway, said cap holder being adapted upon itsmovement towards said other end of said passageway to urge said blockinto said recess and to cause said cap to be fitted over the end of saidtube, thus forming an assembly of cap and tube, means responsive to thewithdrawal of said assembly from said measuring and cutoff device bysaid cap holder for retracting said knife blade from its position acrosssaid passageway, and means responsive to the retraction of said knifeblade for reenergizing said feeding means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,629,170 Matthias et al. May 17, 1927 1,681,829 Wesseler Aug. 21, 19281,803,871 Sgritta May 5, 1931 2,267,015 Church Dec. 23, 1941 2,340,360Alden Feb. 1, 1944 2,370,828 Widmont Mar. 6, 1945 2,431,279 Remington etal. Nov. 18, 1947 2,510,878 Fairbairn June 6, 1950

